Live from the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair 2009

Its June 19th -- the evening of the first day of the first day of the MREA -- these are a few impressions from our day at the fair...

 

The MREA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

 

This is probably the best of the energy fairs for Do-It-Yourselfers who want to build renewable energy projects.

This year it is offering 219 hour long workshops covering just about every renewable  energy and sustainable living area.  Subject areas include solar thermal, solar electricity, energy efficient and sustainable construction, greenhouses, sustainable heating and cooling -- just about everything.   I've gone to more than a dozen of these workshops, and in general the quality of the presenters has been excellent -- in some cases, the presenters have worldwide reputations.

 

In addition, there are several building green demos for strawbale, straw clay and earth block construction.

 

There are also hundreds of product sellers and manufacturers at the fair. 

 

All in all, its a pretty unbeatable way to get a lot of good inform

 

The fair is put on with all renewable power, and all of the garbage is collected and composted or recycled.

 

A few pictures from the fair today...

 


Some of the 12 tents the hour long workshops are held in.


The cafe part of the renewable power generation
for the fair.

 

 


PV systems everywhere you look.


A historic Jacobs on the edge of the grounds.


Part of the outdoor exhibt area over the "engine" for an
Aeromotor water pumping windmill.


Part of the inside exhibitors area.

The Workshops

We attended workshops today on greywater recycling, solar greenhouses, PV, organic eating on a dime, wind basics r for women, and sustainable living simplified -- all very good as usual.

 

The PV workshop was quite interesting, in that the MREA has a

 


Chris LaForge's PV workshop.


2nd half of the workshop is a hands on tour of the
MREA demonstration systems.

 

 

 

 

 


Very interesting demonstration of earth block building.
These blocks are pressed on site using your soil and
block pressing machine.


Strawbale building demonstration in
progress.

 

 

 

Green Building Demos

There were several green building demos going on.  The people doing the building were very willing to answer questions about the building technique they were using.

 

   
 

Transportation

There is an extensive display area for energy efficient and clean transportation, including a number of EV conversions by individuals, as well as the latest in hybrid and electric cars.


Thirty mile range homemade recumbent bike
EV conversion.


A Meyer electric

 

 


EV conversion of an MG


The new Honda Insight Hybrid